5 Marketing Takeaways from the 2016 Clinton VS Trump Election

The 2016 presidential campaign is finally over! And, whether the results leave you pleased as punch or crying in your beer, here are some tremendous marketing takeaways that you can apply towards your restaurant business.

1. Never Give Up

There was incredible perseverance in both camps. Secretary Hillary Clinton has been pursuing the presidency since well before 2008 and still went farther than any other female candidate. And most national polls showed Donald J. Trump in second place (1) throughout the campaign…yet that seemed to inspire him to work harder. Also, if you ever feel like throwing in the towel, before you do…we can help! Call us at 1-877-640-1844.

2. Listen Closely to Complaints

Throughout the campaign, Trump’s popularity was often attributed to his listening—and responding to—angry complaints. (2) Are you listening to your customers? Think about the way your staff responds when they realize something is wrong or when a customer complains. The takeaway: listen carefully. If the response isn’t REALLY what they want, they won’t come back.

3. Make Your Marketing YOURS

Sure, the red “Make America Great Again” hats may have looked silly on a man in a suit. Yet Trump wore one at just about every rally. His campaign owned the color red and that slogan. So when you’re doing marketing, be consistent, be bold and be unmistakable, so the public immediately knows it’s you who’s talking.

4. Pay Attention to Radicals

The LA Times had one of the only national polls that showed Trump over Clinton, (3) yet it was widely ignored—and even mocked. (4) The takeaway: if you hear about a restaurant or supplier trying something radically different, pay attention. Check it out and see if it’s something your customers might want…even if you never thought they would.

Take, for example, meatless menus. Just a generation ago, Americans who didn’t eat meat were often considered odd or weird…and today it’s a viable way to grow restaurant business. (5)

5. Surround Yourself with Loyal Supporters

Throughout the campaign, both Clinton and Trump relied on campaign surrogates, someone speaking on their behalf, to spread campaign messages when the candidates were elsewhere. For example, Ivanka Trump and Rudolph W. Giuliani were surrogates for Trump; and former President Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama were surrogates for Clinton.

You do that, too! With Restaurant.com. We’ve got your back and are consistently supporting your restaurant on our website, in our emails and through our affiliate marketing and social media posts… and more. All you need to do is tell us what to say by keeping your menu and restaurant profile up to date, and we’ll spread the word.

No matter which candidate you supported, we can all agree that a majority of Americans love to dine out. If you need any more marketing insights or ideas to help grow your business, call your Partner Success Team at 1-877-640-1844.